"ASPAC" Hatching New Anti-China Plot

The fourth ministerial meeting of the "Asian and Pacific Council" ("ASPAC") closed in Ito, southwest of Tokyo, on June 11 after a 3-day noisy session. Held under the auspices of the Japanese reactionaries who served as stage-managers but with U.S. imperialism pulling the strings from behind the scenes, the meeting is another grave move by U.S. imperialism to rig up a new anti-China military alliance headed by Japanese reaction. Four years ago, U.S. imperialism threw together the "Asian and Pacific Council" as one more tool for its aggression and expansion in Asia. In this motley organization were the reactionaries of Japan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and "Malaysia" as well as the Saigon puppet clique, the Pak Jung Hi clique and the Chiang Kai-shek bandit gang. Japanese monopoly capital had joined with the intention of using it to revive its old dream of establishing a "greater East As5a co-prosperity sphere." In addition to the original participants, the Sato government got the Indonesian fascist military regime, another running dog of U.S. imperialism, to take part in the latest "ASPAC" meeting. This reactionary meeting was called entirely in accordance with the dictates of U.S. imperialism. Its new chieftain Nixon had indicated quite openly that the United States hoped that "ASPAC" would become a military alliance with the Japanese reactionaries playing "a leading role." At the bidding of his U.S. imperialist master, Japanese Prime Minister Sato, putting on the airs of a "leader," told the opening session that the "Asian and Pacific region is the priority area for Japan's foreign policy." He arrogantly declared that Japan is determined to "play a more active role" in this region which, he said, "forms an organic whole." Japanese Foreign Minister Aichi, who had just returned from a pilgrimage to Washington, suggested to the meeting a plan for so-called "maritime co-operation" in the Pacific region. This was directed at establishing closer military collaboration among the U.S. imperialist lackeys in Asia so as to more frantically oppose China. Though the Sato government tried hard to cover up the meeting's counter-revolutionary military aim, Japanese radio broadcasts disclosed that on June 10 the puppets and lackeys of U.S. imperialism held secret talks at the meeting on the so-called "question of safeguarding the security of this region." They viciously attacked the great socialist China and shamelessly lauded their U.S. imperialist master, asking it to continue its military and economic role in the region. In the face of the torrent of protests by the Japanese people, the reactionary government sent 7,000 armed police to guard the meeting place. Afraid of demonstrations by the people, Sato arrived by military helicopter instead of by car to deliver the opening address. Engaged in anti-China, anti-communist and anti-people manoeuvres, these reactionaries are really faint-hearted and weak. This shows that, confronted by the resolute struggle of the people of Japan and throughout the world, no military alliance can save these paper tigers, U.S. or Japanese, from their doom.